Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP is an AV rated, civil litigation firm with an unparalleled record of successful results for our clients, emphasizing prompt, economic resolution. We possess the knowledge to navigate all state and federal venues in California and Nevada for our clients. We obtain the best possible solutions for our clients, efficiently and effectively meeting our clients' objectives. Our 95% success rate in trial speaks for itself. Although highly successful at trial, we recognize that early resolution often meets our clients' objectives, and we pride ourselves on our early and accurate evaluation of all matters.
A key ingredient of our firm's success is the diversity of our attorneys. We are committed to diversity both within the firm and the profession of law at large. We are registered by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency as a minority-owned business, and we are a member of the California Minority Counsel Program. We are also proud to support several fellowships for minority students.
Our clients include numerous Fortune 500 companies and insurance companies, including the following: Cincinnati Insurance Companies, CSAA Insurance Group, Discount Tire, EB Stone & Son, Inc., Forrest River Inc., Galpao Gaucho USA, Global Indemnity Group, IAT Insurance Group, Mike Thompson’s RV, Raley’s, RVs of Sacramento, The Save Mart Companies, US Concrete, Western National Insurance Group, Woodside Hotel Group.
Featured Attorneys
Matthew A. Gardner
Partner
Matthew A. Gardner joined the firm in 2018 as an experienced litigation defense attorney having defended clients that ranged from large corporations to single individuals. Mr. Gardner quickly became a leader in the Los Angeles office. He leads a talented group of defense attorneys to navigate challenging cases across numerous practice areas in state and federal court throughout California. Mr. Gardner received his Bachelor’s Degrees in History and Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, and he earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California. The firm is grateful for Mr. Gardner’s dedication and leadership, and we look forward to having him on the team for many years to come.
Sandra L. Block
Partner
Sandra L. Block joined the firm in 2019 as a litigation defense attorney with extensive knowledge and experience. Ms. Block quickly emerged as a team leader in both the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices. She leads a team of savvy defense attorneys to defend against all kinds of claims for clients in state and federal court throughout California. Ms. Block graduated from Brandeis University with Honors and earned her Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School where she was the Senior Articles Editor of the school’s law review and on the Dean’s List. The firm thanks Ms. Block for her hard work and dedication, and we look forward to our continued collaboration and partnership.
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Michael C. Zimmermann
Associate
Michael C. Zimmermann is an associate in our San Francisco office, where he represents individuals and entities in a range of disputes. Mr. Zimmerman’s civil litigation practice focuses on the defense of complex tort and commercial claims. Mr. Zimmermann earned his bachelor’s degree in History from the University of San Diego and his law degree from the University of San Francisco where he served on the law review for two years. Mr. Zimmermann is admitted to practice before all state courts in California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Recent Results/News
- 13Nov
San Francisco Attorney George M. Morris presents on Dog Bite Law in CA
We are proud to continue our Senior Associates Presents Series. We want to thank George M. Morris for his recent presentation, giving an overview of Dog Bite Law in California. In our latest offering in...31JulAssociate Attorney Cristina Quinonez and the Firm Thank La Raza and the Bay Area Latina Law Leadership Academy
As a first-generation Latinx attorney, it is important to me to encourage other Latinx to join the legal profession and support one another through law school and career advancement. I decided to become an active... - 9Jun
Associates attend San Francisco La Raza Lawyer Association’s Noche de Gala
San Francisco Associate Christina Quinonez and Summer Associate Gueverly Mendez attended the San Francisco La Raza Lawyer Association’s Noche de Gala this month, celebrating diversity and equity with the Association. With over 400 attendees, this...26AprDay of Service – San Francisco Food Bank Event
Phillips Spallas & Angstadt Day of Service: We want to thank our team for their volunteer work at the San Francisco/Marin Food Bank event. By 11:00 a.m. 672 bags of food were distributed to the... - 14Feb
Los Angeles Attorney Sandra Block has been elevated to Partner
Sandra L. Block joined the firm in 2019 as a litigation defense attorney with extensive knowledge and experience. Ms. Block quickly emerged as a team leader in both the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices....14FebAttorney Matthew Gardner rises to Partner in Los Angeles office
Matthew A. Gardner joined the firm in 2018 as an experienced litigation defense attorney having defended clients that ranged from large corporations to single individuals. Mr. Gardner quickly became a leader in the Los Angeles... - 28Dec
Los Angeles Attorneys Defeat Appeal of Trial Court Ruling Granting Dismissal of Case
Partners Sandy L. Block and Michael R. Halvorsen recently secured affirmation of a trial court ruling on a demurrer that dismissed the entire case against the clients. The City of Hermosa Beach was a co-defendant...6DecSan Francisco Attorneys Obtain Defense Verdict in Catastrophic Injury Case
In a November 2022 jury trial, the jury rendered a defense verdict in a catastrophic injury case defended by Robert Phillips, Elisa Marcaletti, and Kristin Choi. The firm defended a retail client in which plaintiff’s... - 1Dec
Los Angeles Attorneys Prevail in California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District
Attorneys Michael R. Halvorsen and Sandra L. Block prevailed in an appeal brought by a neighbor homeowner challenging the issuance of conditional use permit and certificate of occupancy to a residential townhouse project on the...7NovSan Francisco Sails for Justice
Attorneys Cristiana Giannini and Christopher B. Daley, and legal assistants Emma Heidinger and Rachael McGregor participated in the Sailing for Justice fundraiser with Justice At Last, a San Francisco Bay-Area nonprofit law firm dedicated to... - 31May
Our Attorneys and Staff Give Back at Food from the Bar
A culture for service is a fundamental core value at our firm. It is an integral part of our practice and extends beyond our clients to those in need within our local community. Attorneys and...31MaySan Francisco and Los Angeles Offices Team Up to Obtain Summary Judgment in Personal Injury Case
Attorneys Robert K. Phillips, Michael R. Halvorsen, and Federico A. Stea recently secured a summary judgment for our client in a case brought in San Francisco Superior Court. Plaintiff tripped on an irregular sidewalk adjacent... - 21Mar
San Francisco Team Awarded Summary Judgment in Favor of Client
Attorneys Rob Phillips, Priya Navaratnasingham, and Christopher Lunsford in our San Francisco office obtain summary judgment in favor of homeowner clients in a lawsuit filed in the Solano County Superior Court. Plaintiff alleged that he...15MarSan Francisco Team Wins Motion For Summary Judgment in Client’s Favor
Attorneys Rob Phillips, Priya Navaratnasingham, and Christopher Lunsford in our San Francisco office obtain summary judgment in favor of homeowner clients in a lawsuit filed in the Solano County Superior Court. Plaintiff alleged that he... - 22Feb
San Francisco Team Wins Summary Judgment in Client’s Favor
Attorneys Robert K. Phillips, Alyce W. Foshee, and Britney N. Karim secured a summary judgment for our client, an international retailer, in a case brought in Kings County Superior Court. Plaintiff alleged our client’s personnel...15JanSan Francisco Office Secures Major Results for Client with Back to Back Demurrer Wins
Partner Elisa Marcaletti and associate Connor Gaballa prevailed on two consecutive demurrers in a landlord-tenant case venued in San Mateo County. This case involved an unauthorized individual residing at the clients’ property allegedly pursuant to... - 15Mar
Las Vegas Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Premise Liability Case
Attorneys in the Las Vegas Office secured summary judgment for our client in a premises liability case brought in the United States District Court, District of Nevada. Plaintiff slipped and fell on a liquid spill...15JanLas Vegas Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Wrongful Death Case
Attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Megan E. Wessel secured a summary judgment for our client in a wrongful death premises liability case defended in the United States District Court, District of Nevada. The deceased allegedly... - 1Jan
Alyce Foshee and Timothy Kuhls have been elevated to Partner
We are delighted to announce that Alyce Foshee and Timothy Kuhls have been elevated to Partner. Ms. Foshee is based in the San Francisco office and specializes in product liability, catastrophic personal injury, pharmacy and...15NovLas Vegas Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Premise Liability Case
Attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Megan E. Wessel recently secured a summary judgment for our client in a premises liability case brought in United States District Court, District of Nevada. Plaintiff slipped on a clear... - 2Oct
Motions for Summary Judgement Granted in Clients’ Favor and Case Dismissed
Attorneys Kimberly R. Thompson, Sandra L. Block, Matthew A. Gardner, and Michael R. Halvorsen of our Los Angeles Office recently secured a summary judgment for the clients in a case brought in San Bernardino County...15JulLas Vegas Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Premise Liability Case
Attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Megan E. Wessel secured a summary judgment for our client in a premises liability case out of United States District Court, District of Nevada. While exiting a job interview on... - 5Feb
San Francisco Office Obtains Defense Verdict in Motor Vehicle Jury Trial
San Francisco attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Victor C. Ng obtained a defense verdict in a six-day motor vehicle jury trial in San Benito County Superior Court. While liability was stipulated, the defendant contested the...27JanLas Vegas Obtains Defense Verdict at Arbitration in Premises Liability Lawsuit
Congratulations to our Las Vegas office for obtaining a defense verdict in a premises liability lawsuit brought against a Fortune 500 retailer. The plaintiff alleged negligence after a pallet being pulled by a store associate... - 16Jan
Las Vegas Office Obtains Defense Verdict in Property Damage Lawsuit
Associate Daniel Joslyn obtained a defense verdict in a property damage case in the Henderson Justice Court in Clark County, Nevada. After a bench trial, the Court ruled that the defendant, an international retailer, was...12JulSan Francisco Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Catastrophic Auto-Pedestrian Accident
Partner Robert Phillips and associate Mana Ettafagh prevailed on a motion for summary judgment in an auto-pedestrian accident resulting in catastrophic injuries. Plaintiffs alleged negligent design and construction of a Fortune 500 retailer’s parking lot.... - 24Jan
Nevada Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Premises Liability Case
Las Vegas associate Ryan Kerbow obtained summary judgment in a premises liability slip and fall matter. Plaintiff slipped and fell on orange soda in a store. Approximately twenty seconds prior, a female customer pushing a...31OctPhillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP receives the Diversity Gold Seal from Vault and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association
Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP is the proud recipient of the Diversity Gold Seal from Vault and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA TM) for its efforts to foster and enhance diversity in the legal... - 3Jul
Pooja Kumar Receives 10 Best Attorney Award for Client Satisfaction from the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
Congratulations to Las Vegas associate Pooja Kumar, who recently received the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys’ 10 Best Attorney Award for Client Satisfaction in Nevada. The criteria considered included the attainment of the highest...6JunMendocino County Bar Association Commends James Ghidella for Settlement Expertise
Brian Momsen,Esq., President of the Mendocino County Bar Association, has commended Senior Counsel James Ghidella on behalf of the Association for his many years of service as pro tem Settlement Officer of the Court and... - 13Feb
San Francisco Partner Sworn in as Court Appointed Special Advocate
Partner Candice Mullings Williams was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children. Ms. Williams provides one-on-one support, companionship, mentoring, and advocacy for foster children in Court and beyond.25JanNevada Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Tort Case
Associate Alyce Foshee obtained summary judgment in a tort dispute, with the Eighth District Judicial Court (Clark County, Nevada) dismissing plaintiffs’ complaint which alleged causes of action for (1) malicious prosecution, (2) negligent hiring/training/supervision, (3)... - 16Jan
San Francisco Office Successfully Moves to Strike Employment Lawsuit Against Fortune 100 Employer
San Francisco attorneys Greg Spallas and Anna Gehriger prevailed on behalf of a large employer client on a special motion to strike (pursuant to the Anti-SLAPP statute, California Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16) resulting...11OctSan Francisco Office Successfully Obtains Dismissal of Action in Federal Court
San Francisco attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Priya Navaratnasingham successfully obtained a dismissal with prejudice of plaintiff’s entire action before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. Plaintiff alleged breach of... - 14Jun
San Francisco Office Successfully Defends Favorable Contractual Liability Judgment in Court of Appeals
Robert K. Phillips recovered a large six-figure sum for Gap, Inc. from a vendor after successfully litigating the contractual indemnity provisions and prosecuting a jury trial to determine fault for the underlying accident. Mr. Phillips...17FebNevada Office Obtains Summary Judgment in Premises Liability Case
Las Vegas associate Ryan Kerbow obtained summary judgment in favor of retailer Sam’s Club in a premises liability case. Plaintiff claimed special damages in excess of $1.4 million as a result of a slip and... - 3Jan
San Francisco Office Successfully Compels Arbitration in a Case that Received National Media Attention
Partner Elisa R. Marcaletti successfully moved to compel arbitration in a nationally-recognized case on behalf of the firm’s client, a wedding photography/videography company based in Chicago, Illinois, that does business in over twenty states. Plaintiff,...26OctSan Francisco Office Successfully Defends Multi-Million Dollar Auto Claim
San Francisco attorneys Robert K. Phillips and Kaa Bao Yang successfully defended an auto dealer in a two-week motor vehicle jury trial in Monterey County Superior Court involving catastrophic injuries and claims of permanent disability.... - 16Oct
San Francisco Paralegal is Elected to the San Francisco Paralegal Association’s Board
San Francisco paralegal Albert Chen is elected to the San Francisco Paralegal Association’s 2017 Board of Directors. The association is a nonprofit organization created to represent the paralegal profession.29SepLas Vegas Office Obtains Dismissal Sanctions in Premises Liability Action
Brenda Entzminger and Betsy Jefferis obtained a dismissal with prejudice in a personal injury case against the retailer, Wal-Mart. Plaintiff sought general and special damages in the seven-figure range for a slip and fall matter. The... - 29Sep
Nevada Court Grants Defendant’s Motion for Judgement as a Matter of Law in Premises Liability Action
Robert Phillips and Brenda Entzminger obtained a defense judgment in favor of Wal-Mart, following a jury trial in September 2015. Although the jury had originally awarded over $718,000 in favor of the plaintiff, the United States...27SepSan Francisco Office Successfully Defends Premises Liability Jury Trial
San Francisco attorney Sara Khan Tackett successfully defended a two-week premises liability jury trial in Santa Clara County Superior Court involving claims of serious injuries and permanent disability. Plaintiff asked the jury to award over... - 8Feb
Candice Mullings Williams has been promoted to Partner
Congratulations to Candice Mullings Williams, who has been promoted to Partner at the firm. Ms. Williams joined the firm in 2007. She specializes in civil litigation defense, with a focus on high exposure personal injury...15JanAssociate Anna Gehriger has been selected as an “Outstanding Volunteer” for 2015
Congratulations to Anna C. Gehriger who has been selected as an “Outstanding Volunteer” for 2015 by the San Francisco Bar Association’s Justice and Diversity Center, and will be honored at a Volunteer Appreciation Celebration on March... - 10Oct
Employment Attorneys Prevail Before the United States Supreme Court
In October 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court denied plaintiff’s Petition for a Writ of Certiorari of a successful motion for summary judgment which San Francisco partner Gregory Spallas and associate Anna Gehriger had won in...16SepLas Vegas Office Obtains Exclusion of Damages in Premises Liability Action
Las Vegas partner Brenda Entzminger obtained an order from the United States District Court, District of Nevada, excluding future damages claim and excluding over $100,000 in past medical expenses in premises liability action. Montilla v.... - 16Aug
Las Vegas Office Obtains Exclusion of Damages in Premises Liability Action
Las Vegas attorney Ryan Kerbow obtained an order from the United States District Court, District of Nevada, excluding $263,793 in past medical expenses and $472,538.00 in future damages in a premises liability action. The exclusion... - 30Aug
San Francisco Office Obtains Dismissal in Personal Injury/Construction Accident Case Against Clients Based on Privette/Hooker Doctrine and Avoids Plaintiff’s Seven-Figure Damage Allegations
Robert K. Phillips and Ryan Gille successfully obtained a dismissal of a personal injury/construction accident case against PSA’s clients. The plaintiff sought general and special damages in the seven figure range for work-related injuries received...